CHENNAI/TRICHY: Complaints are pouring in from various parts of the state about the delay in disbursal of social security pension of the state and Union governments. The monthly cash assistance of Rs 1,000 should have gone to 34.02 lakh beneficiaries of nine schemes, including the elderly persons, differently abled, destitute widows, destitute/deserted wives, poor unmarried and refugees.
But with the government in a limbo, awaiting the assembly election results, many are yet to receive their benefits.
Neither the local revenue officials nor the bank authorities are providing a proper reply, say the distressed beneficiaries. A M Sasikumar, differently-abled and a native of Manappudaiyur in Thanjavur said, “I have three daughters and a son and my wife is an agricultural labourer. The government’s assistance is of great help. While the pension is credited before fifth of every month, we are clueless about the delay this month. We are struggling to make ends meet.”
V Elangovan of Kumbakonam has not received his monthly pension nor has S Malathi of Pudukkottai, a differently-abled pensioner.
After the first wave of Covid-19 hit livelihood options, the poor and downtrodden are now left in the lurch. K Nagaraj from Sivakasi said he made several attempts at a nationalised bank’s ATM to find out if the sum had been credited. “It has been the same everywhere in Virudhunagar. We haven’t received the amount till date. Officers don’t even attend our calls,” he said.
The Tamil Nadu association for the rights of all types of differently-abled and caregivers (Taratdac) secretary S Namburajan said the members of various districts, including Tuticorin, Salem, Trichy and Cuddalore complain about the delay. Even the cash assistance of Rs 1,500 under the four schemes of differently-abled department has been affected.
The state government allotted Rs 4,307 crore for social security pension schemes this year. While the amount is credited in the beneficiaries’ bank accounts in the first week through district treasury, there is a delay in raising the bill by the officials due to election work. Sources say that districts like Ariyalur, Dindigul, Coimbatore crossed 30% of disbursement and the rest are picking up after the festival holidays.
Districts like Chennai, Cuddalore, Trichy, Tiruvarur, Virudhunagar, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai are lagging in updation.
“The sum has been allotted to the districts on April 4 itself. The election work and the subsequent holidays delayed the process. Every beneficiary will get the cash support in a week’s time,” said a senior official. The department tied up with banks and post offices to disburse assistance.